| Pemalite said: The 3DS is probably my least played platform that I have owned over the last 30+ years... I think the subpar displays and visuals play a big part of that. (I am a resolution snob.) |
Same here, in terms of being my least played platform. I don't know that it had much to do with anything other than changes in my life style though. I went through it. From the time I was about 20, in 2000, to roughly 2010, where handheld gaming was just much more convenient for me. But, by the time 3 DS came around, I was pretty much back to console gaming. I had more money, had a better entertainment setup in my home, and I just had a lifestyle that allowed for the more immersive experiences found on console.
| Mr Puggsly said: Compared to GBA and DS, 3DS was severely lacking in 3rd party support. I think what happened is those resources were moved to mobile devices like phones and tablets. I have no regrets buying a 3DS, but I didn't play any JRPGs and I probably completed like 10 games at most. I spent more time with the Vita. |
Agreed. The lifespan of the 3 DS pretty much completely coincides with the rise in Mobile gaming. And, the reality is that the install base for smartphones is infinitely higher than that of the 3 DS
| d21lewis said: At some point I just stopped playing my 3DS at all. I was carrying it and my Vita and the time but never turning them on. I think I had a pretty diverse library before that happened but I really can't remember. It was a step down from the DS as far as variety goes, though. |
Same for me. I own a 3 DS since somewhere near launch. But, it just never really became a part of my gaming life. I played a few games on it early on, but it just dropped off my mental map shortly thereafter.
One point that no one seems to have raised here, with regards to the lack of third-party support, is the very slow start that 3 DS had sales-wise. These AAA Publishers that everyone has mentioned have extremely long lead times on their games. So, if Hardware launches with slow sales, even if it turns around a year or two later, it would be a few years before those companies can get big titles made toward the system.
These are mostly big companies, with publicly traded ownership. They have an obligation to maximize returns to shareholders. They have to Work with the data available to them, and for a while that data showed that the 3DS was a flop. So, they focused their resources elsewhere.
